F-35 Cancelled, then what ?

[ORAC]

The Canadian government just cancelled the F-35 purchase...

Do you have a link for that? I couldn't find any articles stating a plan to cancel the program, only that they're reviewing it...

Ares: F-35 Reports Released by Canadian Govt ...

The Canadian government has officially released the parameters for moving forward with an F-18 replacement and shelving its earlier evaluation that led to the selection of the Lockheed Martin F-35.

“Last April, we set out a Seven-Point Plan to hit the reset button on the process to replace the CF-18 aircraft,” the Honorable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, said in a press release. “With the release of the Terms of Reference that will guide the evaluation of alternative fighter aircraft, we are demonstrating that we are serious about looking at all available options to replace the CF-18’s.”

Here are the links to the pertinent docs:

• National Fighter Procurement Secretariat’s Seven-Point Plan: Status Report;
  
  
• Terms of Reference for the evaluation of options to sustain the fighter capability. This evaluation of options will review and assess available fighter aircraft, and each option will be evaluated against the roles and missions of the Canada First Defense Strategy;
  
  
• National Defence’s Annual Update, setting out comprehensive life-cycle cost estimates for the F-35;
  
  
• KPMG’s independent review of those costs, which establishes (1) a comprehensive life-cycle framework for reporting costs, and (2) the review of the National Defence Annual Update; and
  
  
• Industry Canada’s report on Canadian Industrial Participation in the Joint Strike Fighter Program.